Southeast Asia’s rice, fruits, and seafood are threatened by global warming. What can the ASEAN community do to avert a food security disaster?

MANILA, Philippines – Did you know that unabated global warming can harm humanity’s supply of food?

Southeast Asia, a region that produces much of the world’s most important crops, is in particular danger.

It’s located near the equator, meaning temperature increases will be most felt in the region. ASEAN countries lie near the Pacific Ocean, a major generator of strong typhoons. Several parts of Southeast Asia are also low-lying, making them vulnerable to sea level rise.

International development group Oxfam recently published a report on how climate change will affect food security and economy in ASEAN.

Here are some key findings and recommendations of the report:

Sources:

“Harmless Harvest” report by Oxfam, Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC, International Rice Research Institute, Asia Development Bank, CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security